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Aaron Hoskins
SDSU Marketing & Communications
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ahoskins@mail.sdsu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDSU Researcher Wins Blasker Award to Thwart Anthrax

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, June 20, 2002 - San Diego State University Prof. John Love will receive the San Diego Foundation's Blasker Award and a $46,880 grant today to continue his research to fight Anthrax and other disease causing agents.

Anthrax is most deadly in its inhalation form. Upon intake, the warm and moist environment of the lungs causes the anthrax spores to germinate rapidly. The bacteria then infiltrate the bloodstream in large numbers where they secrete deadly amounts of toxin. Although antibiotics can kill the Anthrax bacteria at this point, people infected with the inhaled form die because antibiotics do not eradicate the toxin. In contrast, Love's methods will specifically target the toxin and potentially block its ability to cause death.

Love's technology is best described as computer-assisted protein-based drug design. The SDSU research team uses today's fastest Intel processors in combination with sophisticated computer-generated mathematical computations and modern molecular mechanics force-fields to design antibody-like-proteins. The designed proteins are targeted to bind and inactivate proteins from pathogenic organisms associated with human diseases.

"The proteins we are engineering here at SDSU may soon be used to block anthrax toxicity and provide us with additional tools to help thwart bioterrorism," Love said. "The techniques we develop in the process may also be used in the future to help cure other forms of disease, including cancer.

"Receiving this Blasker Award is wonderful," Love said. "This level of support and recognition is especially rewarding given that the research is being conducted in San Diego, one of the major biotechnology cities in the United States."

San Diego Foundation Director Robert Kelly said, "Dr. Love has gone through a rigorous process at the Foundation and we are very pleased to support his work. San Diego State University should be very proud to have someone who was able to go through our process and be very successful."

The San Diego Foundation is a community resource for receiving, managing and distributing charitable funds to support organizations within the San Diego region. The Blasker grant program is intended to nurture and develop unique and innovative discoveries that may benefit all mankind, and to support and encourage individuals with potential in the scientific, engineering and medical fields to realize their goals.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 61 areas and doctorates in 13. SDSU's more than 34,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.

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